Has anyone tried to renew a passport recently?

[Longtalljosie]

My passport expires in October and I’m outside the UK. I feel very edgy about losing the ability to get home - my parents are in poor health generally. I’ve tried and failed to get in touch with HMRC to ask if there will be discretion over the 6 month rule, given people are being asked to put off renewing their passports. But I also feel edgy about sending my passport off to join a massive backlog.

Has anyone renewed their passport very recently? And if so how long did it take?

I renewed my own and my DD's in the last few weeks. Took a couple of weeks.

Yep it was actually extremely fast despite them saying it would take a while. I would do it now.

Thanks all. Love Mumsnet!

2 weeks from start to finish here!

take the time to get the photo right, there's an online checker. 'Fair' seemed to get through.

To those who have recently renewed, please can you tell me - did you receive the burgundy or blue colour? 🙂

Blue

Blue

it looks black to me....

all that matters appearance wise is that it is the same size as before - the really old black ones were too big.

Brilliant, thanks!

Funny, my partner renewed his passport last month and it's burgundy...

DD sent hers for renewal (but first adult, if you see what I mean) in mid March and is still waiting for it. The tracker shows they have received her old passport and says they will be in contact if they have any questions.

@PsychoSyd it sounds like they may have only just switched to the blue colour?

I did hear on the radio in Feb that from the following month they'd be swapping to blue. Perhaps it depends on which Passport Office it was processed at? 🤔

Still waiting for a first passport for DD. Application was received by passport office at end of April and accepted but we keep receiving texts and emails saying that there will be delays

I’m glad you asked OP. I’m in the same situation. Will renew ASAP.

Well mine went off yesterday - although I have another layer of bureaucracy as it’s international mail. For the kids it’s been just over two weeks in the dim-and-distant pre-Covid past - we’ll see...

Oh DS's was th very beginiing of March and his came back burgundy. We were holding out for the blue one buut he was supposwedto be travelling with school in July.

It does though have very nice watermarked pages all the way through, a very nice touch and the photo is back to the second page

I'm starting to get hacked off now. Keep getting delay messages. It's been months!

Just thought I’d update - still no passport. It took until June 1st for my old passport to arrive at HMPO and the application to start “proper” - but nothing since apart from a couple of delay emails. @Oblomov20 do you have yours yet??

Mine showed received on 26 May, got it last Thursday (I think!). Had to redo the photo as it was rejected, but it was dispatched 3 days later.

Oh that’s hopeful @howmanysleepsnow! Fingers crossed.

Do it NOW. I had to get my MP involved with DD's renewal (she's a minor). Total nightmare. When you apply they ask over and over if you need it. Just say yes, respond yes to all such questions.

I applied for one for my new baby in April. They received it mid April & it was being processed end of April. I just got an email yesterday to say it's been approved & is in the post on its way to us!

Just to add, I did it all online.

I've just applied for me and dh as ours both ran out at the start of lockdown. I dutifully obeyed all the warnings not to apply unless I really needed to, but after 3 months of that I decided we couldn't wait any longer, especially if the various delays mean we won't get them before the Autumn. Posted our old ones off on Monday but they're still not showing as received, which is a bit of a worry.

Wish I had sent DSs renewal off while there was still Burgundy ones.